You are reaching here! Rotonone biodegrades very quickly and the likelyhood of rainwater run off contamination is about nil, unless you spray in the rain or happen to have a garden on the banks of a lake or stream. This isn't even an issue. The nitrogen from manure is much more likely to cause lake or stream pollution by run off that Rotonone is. Do you also propose to stop using manure in the garden. A garden is not a perfect, natural environment that grows untouched and is in a perfectly natural state. When we create a garden, we create an altered environment, and that brings with it problems such as soil depleation, insect population changes, weeds, etc. As gardeners, we need to intervene in the most harmless way possible to correct problems caused by imbalances we create. Anything we do or add to correct imbalances has the potential to cause problems, which is why common sense and good judgement is essential. If you have a sever problem with harmful insects because of imbalances, you have a choice to make. Do nothing, and lose the crop, or intervene using the safest organic remedys available. Of course, you can introduce beneficial insects to eat the bad bugs, which by the way, causes another imbalance. You can hand pick the little critters too. But chances are you will lose the crop, and the problem will remain. Or us can use a safe, organic remedy like Rotonone sparingly, and then try to lessen the imbalance that cause the problem in the first place. Ron The Garden Guy http://www.TheGardenGuy.org

Have been using river rock for years, and switched to that after years of frustration w/wood mulch, cedar chips, and everything else. Roots run deep, and IMO always seems to be easier to grow through wood mulch vs. rock. However, it's a matter of preference. As far as moving rock to plant perennials in, no matter how big or small the area, I have never ever had a problem moving the rocks for the area I want to work in. However, when moving the rocks, I never use a shovel but rather my foot!!! Yes, I use the length of my foot (either side) to scoot the rocks over and out of my way and then use the same method to put them back after I'm finished planting. If you think of it in biological terms, our legs have more muscle strength than our arms. Also, bending, squatting, and then standing up with a shovel full of rocks for 2-5 hours can put excessive strain on the back. If you're able to hold on to a fence, or other device, try to use your foot to move/scoot the rocks out of your way. Make sure you have a good pair of gardening boots and/or sneakers on before you do this. Physically moving old rock that is atop old material ... I used my wheel barrel by tilting it, setting a shovel full of rock at edge (to hold down in slant position. Then, I lifted the material with the river rock and let the rocks fall/slide into the wheel barrel. With an extra helping hand, these simplified techniques can help minimize the strain on your back. If using a shovel, use a flat/spaded type, and make sure to squat down NOT bend down, as you bring the heavy end as close to your body, then slowly stand up (never twist your body to throw and lay stone/rock), reposition feet and lay the rock into barrel or desired location. Hope this helps.

Here I am, finally! Sorry I never got around to taking any pictures; maybe this year, though the trees I have aren't all that impressive. Spring time in the Rockies, not much money for more conifers this year - spent too much last year with mixed results. Of the dwarf conifers I planted, almost half of them had died by the end of the summer, and one more succumbed over the winter. :-( This is a list of the ones that I actually planted last spring: Abies balsamea 'Nana' Juniperus communis 'Kalebab' Picea abies 'Tompa' Picea pungens 'Mile Up 92' (a gift from Nate (sluice) Picea pungens 'The Blues' Picea glauca (probably mariana??) 'Echiniformis' Pinus aristata Bristlecone Pine (a gift from treebarb) Pinus banksiana 'Angel' Pinus banksiana 'Rochester Pendula' Pinus banksiana 'Tucker's Dwarf' Pinus contorta 'Chief Joseph' Pinus mugo 'Zundert' Pinus x schwerrnii 'Wiethorst' Thuja occidentalis 'Little Champion' Thuja occidentalis 'Sherwood Frost' Thuja occidentalis 'Zmatlik' Tsuga canadensis 'Moon Frost' These are the ones that are still alive and seem to be doing well: Juniperus communis 'Kalebab' Pinus banksiana 'Rochester Pendula' Pinus banksiana 'Angel' Pinus contorta 'Chief Joseph' Pinus mugo 'Zundert' Thuja occidentalis 'Little Champion' Thuja occidentalis 'Sherwood Frost' Tsuga canadensis 'Moon Frost' Pinus banksiana 'Tucker's Dwarf' is still alive but doesn't look all that good, lots of die back which doesn't bode well for such a tiny plant... The two I regret losing the most are the 'Mile Up 92' and the 'Wiethorst.' The 'Mile Up' is irreplaceable as this was a clone that sluice grew and I won't get another chance at it - surprisingly, when I dug it up after it died it had almost no root ball. Perhaps I should have kept it in the pot for another year. I will try to replace the 'Weithorst' as it is really a wonderful looking tree; still can't find a source other than Klehms Song Sparrow Farms, though. Since the one I got from them died (of course, wasn't my fault, right?!?) I am somewhat reluctant to buy another one from them... Is that foolish? But, since they seem to be the only source here in the USA, I will no doubt try again - after all, the 'Moon Frost' that I got from them is doing fine. So, that's my sad tale! Not much encouragement for trying more conifers this year, so I guess it is a good thing that I don't have the $$, although I did buy a cheapy from Home Depot this weekend, a Picea abies 'Reflexa' (of course, incorrectly labeled as a 'Pendula.') Happy Spring to everyone, hope you had a better survival rate than I did and that you have eagerly added to your collection for 2012. :-D Holly

I agree with the location of the dog shower being suboptimal. It's in the front of the house and near the clothes / coats. Where will you store the shampoo and the towles required to dry them off? What about the hair that gets produced in the washing and rub down process - how much of that ends up on the clothes? and the humidity - you need a fan in there. It's way more normal to have a functional laundry room with a sink/ shower, etc. You will now be carrying dirty / hairy dog towels through the foyer kitchen, master bedroom and bathroom to get to the washer. (honestly at this point it might be cleaner to bring the dogs into your master shower! I do that sometimes!) I totally get wanting to have a dog shower (have one) I totally don't get having it where it is and so far away from where the accompanying items need to go / end up. I would also rethink the master sinks. No space that is usable for any kind of normal bathroom grooming. And dead space behind them. Depending on how deep that is, finding counter material could be challenging as well! I don't have an issue with your master shower - mine will be 7x5. I do think you should have 2 shower heads in that space. Make sure you work with the bank (assuming you are getting a construction loan) on a 2 bedroom house. Not sure about your area, but they are hard to finance here, and I expect would be even harder with a self build. Trying to do a self build with a bank is tricky - make sure you have that nailed down. If you are paying 100% out of pocket - then never mind! (and good for you!) You need a interior designer for this if you are this far along with the plans - you should be able to find someone who simply works by the hour.